Releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
33
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
45
%
Field Cover
15
%
Nonvascular Cover
4
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Plot location: low slope along head of Catletts Branch, just N of powerline right of way and 0.63 km south of Hopewell Gap. Marked with a metal tree tag. See form/report for sketch. Rock types present: Small quartzite fragments.
The habitat is a gentle lower slope with very infertile soils and a history of cutting and fire. Quercus montana, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus velutina co-dominate the canopy, with Acer rubrum and Nyssa sylvatica abundant in the understory. Deciduous ericads, including several Vaccinium spp. and Gaylussacia baccata, form locally dense shrub colonies. As in plot BULL018, located ca. 0.14 km to the south, Castanea dentata was once an important tree here. Minor damage to oak foliage was inflicted by gypsy moths prior to a sudden population collapse, apparently caused by the naturalized fungal pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga.
Soil Nutrient Status: low.
Duff and humus/ root mat layers variable within plot, in aggregate ranging from 1 to 10 cm.
A = Yellow-brown sandy loam.
Physical Analysis (A-Horizon): 2% clay, 46% silt, 52% sand.
Disturbance Data:
Disturbance Type
Disturbance Intensity
Disturbance Comment
unknown
Old fire scars on trees. Sprout-origin chestnut oaks. Old American chestnut debris present. Gypsy moth caterpillars all dead.
